“No fair,” Adler mumbles as I see Kady slap his hand away when he reaches for the black polish.
“We’ll do orange,” Kady informs him. “To match your team colors.”
“Fine,” Drax relents with a heavy breath then leans in closer, his breath heating my cheeks. “But only if you sit on my lap while doing it.”
“Deal.”
Drax takes a seat, then I sit on top of him, my back against his chest. I pay careful attention, admiring his veined hands and the black and gray ink spilling over them. It’s an intricate Nordic-looking Viking pattern. He shifts his position, letting me feel his needy cock harden underneath me, but I keep my attention firmly on the job—forcing my brain not to think about what Drax’s cock may look like now that he’s become an alpha.
Ten minutes later, the girls have gotten the giggles, and the guys actually seem to be enjoying themselves.
“I thought you’d be good at this.” Drax dares to look down at the mess I’ve made. I opted to paint his nails in rainbow colors, but I’ve gone way too far over the edges.
“This is why I pay someone to do them for me,” I tell him.
Luca got off the easiest, with Delilah painting tiny cupcakes on one hand and Faye creating delicate flower petals on the other. Meanwhile, Adler wipes a bead of sweat from his brow with one drying hand as Kady demands to know his opinions on toxic masculinity in hockey.
“Did you have fun playing foosball?” I ask Drax. “Hanging with the guys?”
“We didn’t kill each other. No, seriously, it was actually kinda… fun.”
Despite his attempt to sound nonchalant, I think I detect a slight smile in his tone. Maybe he’s starting to soften to the others after all.
“Thank you.” I speak quietly, so only he can hear. “For trying with them. I’m… glad you’re here.”
“I never thought I’d hear you say that.”
“Say what? Thank you?” I spin to face him, sitting sideways across his lap. “I can be nice, you know.”
“Not that. It’s just you’ve spent years trying to push me away. You wanting me to stay is kind of a novelty.”
A jab of guilt hits me in the gut, reminding me of how much of an insensitive jerk I’ve been over the years.
“Hey!” Adler looks over with a sharp glare. “Everything okay, Sabs?”
“Fine.” I force a smile then point at Kady. “Keep painting!”
“Anyway, you better get used to me wanting you around, Drax.” I turn back to him, stroking his hand. “Because I don’t want you going anywhere.”
He grins so hard that his eyes light up. “Me neither.”
Laughter erupts from the other side of the room. “Hold still!” Faye’s lips purse in concentration as she smears a blob of green mushy liquid over Luca’s cheek.
Luca’s tongue darts out to try her homemade face mask when a chunk lands on his lip. “It smells like guacamole.”
“You’re supposed to leave it on for ten minutes.” Delilah rubs some on his other cheek. “Natural nourishment.”
Adler cackles. “It’ll take a lot longer than ten minutes to improve that face.”
“Hey!” Luca objects. “Are you forgetting that I was voted prom king?”
“You robbed it from me.” Adler sulks. “That crown was supposed to be mine.”
“Maybe if you didn’t act like such an arrogant jerk, more people would have voted for you.” Luca sucks his teeth.
Everyone laughs as Adler comes over to help Faye with Luca’s mask, positive vibes buzzing through the room.
While I never planned to find a pack this young, if this is what it’s going to be like, then I can definitely get used to it.
